ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Athlete of the Month

Each month, NSGA selects an interesting athlete to highlight from the vast diversity of people who participate in National Senior Games. These stories demonstrate the spirit of The Games and the benefits of fitness, fun and fellowship that athletes enjoy through their competitive efforts. Everyone has a story to share - what's yours?

HUMANA Heroes: March 2014 Athlete of the Month Balls and Strikes Bowlers at the National Senior Games in Cleveland last year may have admired one athlete with a different approach. Samuel "Doc" Morton, 76, of Newport News, Virginia, took on all comers from a wheelchair. However, none would have guessed what a gifted athlete and true hero was in their midst. Sam always excelled at every sport...

HUMANA Heroes: February 2014 Athlete of the Month Winning by Losing For the first half of her life, 53 year old Dianna Laverdiere of Charlotte, Michigan enjoyed good health and an active lifestyle. Then, her career job kept her at a desk. Marriage and raising three children provided some activity, and she made efforts to exercise and enjoy some bike riding. But as time went on her situation gradua...

HUMANA Heroes: January 2014 Athlete of the Month Really Cool Runnings In the Caribbean the expression "cool runnings" means "peace be the journey." For Trinidad born and raised runner and cyclist Harris Richardson, the saying took on a literal meaning because 28 of his 69 years have been spent working and living in less-than-balmy Alaska. As a young tradesman Harris landed a job helping bui...

HUMANA Heroes: December 2013 Athlete of the Month Illinois Athlete Has the “Chi” of the Tiger Dorothy Sinson of Chicago has embraced challenges for her entire life. "When I went to Oak Park High School in the 1940's the prevailing belief was that the pressures and athleticism of competing would interfere with a girl’s reproductive capacities. Well, I went out for sports anyway and somehow managed ...

HUMANA Heroes: November 2013 Athlete of the Month Heartfelt Thanks On June 22nd, 2007, John Bates was having the time of his life, sharing a tennis court with his doubles partner and wife Janice Sullivan. They had traveled to Louisville, Kentucky from their home in east Tennessee to compete in the 2007 National Senior Games. In one moment, he was practicing for competition starting the next day an...

HUMANA Heroes: October 2013 Athlete of the Month Man of 1,000 Races Experienced runners will tell you that it’s good to have a goal. But few goals are as remarkable as Don McMahill’s-that of competing in 1,000 races. The 77 year old retired YMCA director reached that ambitious milestone in the 5K race walk at the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana in July. The occasion provided an oppo...

On a Wing and a Prayer 55 year old Joe Garcia of Ferndale, Washington has a competitive spirit, but he had more on his mind than simply running a race when he qualified for the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana. We couldn't believe our eyes when we encountered Joe dressed in native garb including sandals, tunic and seashell necklace and anklet after the 5K road race held at the Clevel...

HUMANA Heroes: July 2013 Athlete of the Month This One's for Mom and Dad In August of 2007, Linn Dunton of Pine Valley, California was enjoying a full life as a teacher, track coach, wife and mother of four. With one phone call she was thrown into a battle for her life with a diagnosis of breast cancer. She says she put it into remission "with hard work, determination, discipline, a radical lifest...

Where in the world is Ron Snipe? Senior athlete Ron Snipe loves geography. He made it his college major, studying in Mexico City and earning degrees at the University of Utah and Utah State, where he played on the varsity soccer team. A large portion of his career has been as a sales rep, consultant and research geographer for a major education publisher. The Port Angeles, Washington resident is a...

HUMANA Heroes: May Athlete of the Month Marie Neaves of Townsend, Delaware may have a career working in a library, but she is no mere bookworm. Marie is not one to shirk a challenge, and she's had her share. Trying something new got her involved in sports after she became a senior, and it's been one thing after another ever since. The tragic loss of her husband to cancer in 2003, followed by her s...

HUMANA Hero: Helen White, 59, Arlington, Virginia A True Team Player Spectators at the recent NCAA Division 1 women's basketball regional semi-finals at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia were treated to a special halftime show at games featuring Notre Dame vs. Kansas and Duke vs. Nebraska. You might say it was "one for the ages" as members of the NOVA United Senior Women's Basketball As...

HUMANA Hero: Hazel Trexler-Campbell, 90, Salisbury, North Carolina "Senior Games are Keeping Me Alive" Sports have always been a saving grace for Hazel Trexler-Campbell of Salisbury, NC. "If I hadn't played basketball in high school I would have flunked out. It kept me interested and active and helped me stay involved until I graduated. I still wear my class ring today." The 90 year old will ...

HUMANA Hero: Rick Muth, 63, Orange County, California Persistance, Thy Name is Rick Muth Rick Muth of Orange County, California is a runner. Boy, is he a runner. Muth, 63, missed the California Senior Games but was determined to qualify for the National Senior Games. He had business in Charlotte, NC so he figured he would take a tree hopper to Charleston, WV where the West Virginia games were taki...